‘Help needed’ for sufferers of acne and other skin conditions

July 5, 2012 by Works with Water

As some of you may have heard on BBC Radio 1 today, a new report by the British Association of Dermatologists (Bad) found that specialist services to deal with the psychological effects of acne and other skin conditions are poor.

“Eighty-five per cent of our patients are worried about the impact it can have on their mental health.”

Around half of the population of the UK will have some form of skin problem every year which is why Bad are calling for the Government to provide more funding for services to help people with skin conditions such as acne eczema and psoriasis.

In 2003, Bad published a similar report recommending more specialist services for patients.

Since then, two more psychodermatology services have stopped running taking the number from nine to seven in the UK.

The group is now worried more psychodermatology departments could close as the government plans changes to the NHS in England.

Here at Works with Water we understand all too well the problems acne sufferers face. Many of our case study participants have told us how they suffered with depression and self esteem issues before they started taking help: clear skin. We see such a change in them during the 6 weeks they are on the trial. As their skin improves their confidence returns and by the end of the trial they are completely different people. You can read some of their stories here